Airbus and Boeing hit by plane cancellations

Date added: May 8, 2012

Airlines have cancelled a total of 32 orders for planes so far this year, according to data from the world’s two major plane makers. Boeing said it had 25 orders for its 787 Dreamliner cancelled by airlines without naming who they were. Airbus has had 7 A350 orders cancelled by Etihad Airways. The cancellations reflect the difficult travel market and weak global economy. For Boeing, the 25 Dreamliner cancellations compare with 19 orders so far this year, meaning the plane maker is in negative territory for its flagship plane. Based on list prices, it would cost the airline about $193.5m (£119m). Boeing’s order book stood at 415 on 1 May, against 95 for Airbus on 30 April.